Customer Reviews

Reincarnation

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Since there is a plot description already on the page I'm gonna skip the rehash and get into my thoughts on the movie.

Reincarnation is the 3rd part of the J-Horror Series, which follows Infection and Premonition. Each movie though is standalone with nothing to do with the previous.

But Reincarnation was released as part of the After Dark Horror Fest as one of the 8 films to die for.

Takashi Shimizu is at it again with another ghost movie. While the movie differs from his Ju-on movies they do have a similar tone. For fans of Asian horror you should know what to expect by now.

After seeing the South Korean flick The Red Shoes I decided to take a long break from these movies. While none of them have been terrible movies, my only thought was I already saw this. So after months of avoiding these types of movies I figured it was time to check them out again.

Reincarnation isn't a perfect movie and can be slow at times, but Director Shimizu does a good job at keeping the movie interesting. While not as suspenseful as Ju-on: The Grudge, Shimizu manages to get the best out of every scene, even if it lacks the atmosphere Ju-on had.

That's not to say Reincarnation doesn't have atmosphere, it does, but just plays out as little slower. Bottom line is you aren't getting anything you haven't seen before.

The style is your typical Asian horror movie; but where some of the other films failed with too many clichés, Director Shimizu is able to take all of them and still make an entertaining movie.

There may not be a lot of creativity left, but with the right filmmaker they can still take it and make it something enjoyable. The highlight of the movie is Yuka who plays Nagisa Sugiura.

Not only is she really cute, but she plays her role to near perfection. When she supposed to be afraid Yuka looks absolutely terrified. And without a doubt she has one of the best screams in recent memory.

Some scenes that by right really shouldn't have worked play out creepy due to Yuka looking so terrified. While Director Shimizu crafted some excellent scenes with a lesser actress I don't think they would have worked as well.

Reincarnation has restored by faith in the Asian ghost flick, while no doubt we have seen this movie done a number of times and I have to say that scenes that would have worked well a couple of years ago don't work quite as well, but one thing showed is that an enjoyable and some what creepy movie can still be done even with the clichés.

The pacing though can be slow; while Ju-on wasn't exactly fast paced it did have a lot of haunting and a lot of dread. Reincarnation while does have some of that can run a bit slower.

You'll either be intrigued like I was or you might find yourself a little bored, it really can go either way. The final act can be a bit confusing, but if you pay attention you can and will make sense out what just happened.

Fans of Asian horror might wanna check this out; assuming you liked Takashi Shimizu's Japanese horror you might like this one then as well.

In closing Reincarnation features the clichés that have brought down these Asian flicks the past couple of years, but it's about how you handle it.

Director Shimizu handles it right and like I said makes an enjoyable and some what creepy movie despite the clichés. And along with Yuka a lot of scenes really play out better than they might have with another actress.

Reincarnation doesn't reinvent the ghost sub-genre and doesn't really offer us anything we haven't seen, but when all is said and done it's a well crafted horror flick with some good atmosphere and a good scare or 2.

"Reincarnation" ("Rinne") begins with three people having strange and unsettling experiences, each of which is different. Then a movie update on the radio informs us that the director Matsumara is making a new movie called "Memories," based on "the most brutal indiscriminating murders in Showa's history at a hotel in Gunma." In the 1970s a professor named Omori murdered 11 people at the hotel, including his two children. Then we meet Ikuo Matsumura (Kippei Shiina) and learn that not only is he going to make a movie about this crime, he is going to film it at the hotel and recreate each of the murders on the spots where they actually happened.

For "In Cold Blood" director Richard Brooks filmed in all of the original locations, including the Clutter House, so it is not like this is unprecedented. More recently ("Bobby") filmed a few scenes at the Ambassador Hotel where Robert Kennedy was assassinated during the hotel's demolition). But there is something inherently unsettling about re-enacting murders at the actual locations and "Reincarnation" certainly taps into those emotions. Even without out the ghostly encounters in the film's prologue, the director's announcement that they will be going to the actual hotel creeps you out long before they actually get there and he starts posing actors as corpses. Of course after watching "Odishon" any audition scene in a Japanese horror film gives me the creeps.

Because we are dealing with the conception of reincarnation, albeit as some form of possession, the "ghosts" of this film are not really "onryo," the Japanese ghost ("yurei") bound to the physical world by a desire for vengeance, so this is significantly different from what we have seen in "Ringu" and "Honogurai Mizu No Soko Kara", and of course director Takashi Shimizu's best known film, "Ju-on (The Grudge)." Except for the religious ceremony the cast and crew go through before they begin filming and the distinctive slanted tile roof of the hotel, there are not a lot of particularly Japanese elements to this movie and a more "western" approach might not be something fans want to see (you will probably be thinking "The Shining" more than anything else for most of this one).

The focal character in the story becomes Nagisa Sugiura (Yuka), who is picked to play the little girl who was the last to die at her father's hand. The screenplay by Shimizu and Masaki Adachi does have some other elements to flesh out this horror story, like the creepy child's doll that likes to announce, "We'll stay together, forever." But the fact that the original killer filmed the murders as he was committing them becomes a key ingredient in this movie's endgame and I like a lot of what Shimizu did in the film's climax, which cuts between both time and space as the movie crew films the murders, the cast becomes the victims, and a producer watches the original film of the murders. This is a film where I found the payoff to be better than the setup, which is better than the other way around, a fact confirmed by dozens of less successful horror films. I also liked the double-denouement, which was far and away the best ending of any of the Horrorfest 2006 films and on a par with that of "Honogurai mizu no soko kara," so I actually consider "Rinne" to be far superior to "Ju-On" in terms of Shimizu's films even if it produces less actual scary moments.

One of the reasons I liked "Reincarnation" is as I was sitting in the theater watching it as the opening film for the After Dark Horrorfest I was thinking that clearly this film wants us to think "A," but that what would be interesting would be if it were "B" instead. The more I played out my hypothesis the more I was convinced that I was correct, a fact confirmed by the movie's endgame. One of the fun parts of Horrorfest 2006 was doing a post mortem on each film when it finished, and nobody else said they had seen the ending coming so it should surprise you too, and even if it does not you should like the direction this film ends up taking. "Reincarnation" is the third film in producer Takashige Ichise's six part J-Horror Theater series, following "Infection" ("Kansen") and "Premonition" ("Yogen"), which is proving to be well worth checking out.

DVD Special Features: There is a brief introduction from the director and a pair of featurettes, "The Making of 'Reincarnation'" and "Memories of 'Reincarnation,'" to go along with the deleted scenes (which have commentary, although the movie itself does not). This is an above average collection of bonus features for a Horrorfest 2006 DVD, but nothing stood out enough to justify rounding up on the DVD overall. I never complain about having to read subtitles for a movie, but for some reason on these sorts of featurettes I get distracted. Go figure

Shimizu's After Dark horror contribution Rinne (Reincarnation) is probably closer in sensibility to Pulse or even the Shining than his earlier Ju-On/Grudge films (or most of the other After Dark entries, if the endless previews on my DVD are anything to go by). None of the usual japanese horror tropes--the long haired ghost in a nightgown, the omnipresent water--are present, as Shimizu chooses to focus on the inevitability of repeating your past lives endlessly.

Briefly, the plot is as follows: in 1970, a professor staying at a small hotel went crazy and killed 8 strangers, his 2 children, and himself. 35 years later, a director decides to make a movie dramatizing the event, casting as the lead actress a woman who is haunted by the young victim she plays. Various people throughout the movie, including some of the movie cast and crew, are inexorably drawn to the hotel as history repeats itself.

Part of the creepiness factor is the randomness of the doomed souls who were part of the killing in 1970, and Shimizu is very good about keeping everything moving along quickly and making the intersecting stories mesh. He also uses CGI lavishly (unlike either Ju-On or Grudge) which I always like. The only thing I didn't care for was the usual lack of explanation for why these events are happening at this particular point in time. I've now watched a zillion of these things, and that ALWAYS bothers me.

I see that some of the tag suggestions include "crap" and "worst movie ever made" which suggests that other reviewers were disappointed in their expectations. However, if you're looking for a thoughtful thriller rather than a straightforward J-horror flick, check it out.

At the risk of being thought of as a shill for J-Horror films, I really didn't want to like Reincarnation as the best entry into the After Dark Horrorfest, it just sort of worked out that way. Actually, I'd say it was pretty close between Reincarnation and Abandoned. The film is directed by Takashi Shimizu who directed all of the Ju-On films as well as the American versions, The Grudge 1 & 2. Reincarnation is not a copy of those films, however. In fact, in one of the DVD's special features, Shimizu comments that he wanted to get away from the Ju-On and Ringu type of horror films. He even takes the J-Horror scene to task somewhat for so much copying of those two noted films. He sought to make a ghost story that broke the mold of the curse-style of films. He was largely successful in his efforts although a few of those standard plot elements did creep into Reincarnation, whether it was intended or not.

Nagisa Sugiura is a young actress getting her first big break in a new horror film. From the very beginning, Nagisa keeps seeing a spectral little girl watching her and abruptly disappearing. The cast is told that the film is based on an actual event. Some forty years earlier, before Nagisa was born, Professor Omori went on a murder spree at a hotel, killing eleven people including his two children. The film is based on that event and Nagisa is told she will be playing the role of the little girl who was killed by her father, albeit in a more grown-up version. As part of their research, the director takes the cast and crew to the very hotel where the murders took place. The Hotel has been closed for years and Nagisa has never been there, but she immediately senses something wrong. She has visions of the murders and finds herself sucked into the past, seemingly fleeing from the killer and hiding in a closet.

While the movie is in production, several other cast members and others unrelated to the film, have their own encounters with the specters of that place and the film touches upon themes of reincarnation. Are these people reincarnations of the victims. Shimizu paces the film slowly, building both suspense and mystery. The story can be confusing at first as we don't really know what these other encounters have to do with the rest of the plot, but hang in there. This is like a puzzle that won't quite make sense until all the pieces are put together.

Of course there is the twist ending you've come to expect from most J-Horror films and I have to admit to being completely surprised after thinking I had the ending figured out. Shimizu does a masterful job in throwing out a lot of red herrings to keep viewers stumped. The last 15 minutes are truly among the creepiest moments in any of the After Dark Horrorfest films. The terror is palpable as it builds to a crescendo for its climax.

Reincarnation isn't completely original. Shimizu relates how he recently discovered films like The Shining and The Haunting, and certainly there are influences of both films. I also noted influences from the underrated film The Changeling. Like those films, the horror in Reincarnation is subtle, as it grows and festers.

The film is not without its flaws, however. There was very little in the way of character development, even with the main character Nagisa Sugiura. We end up knowing very little about her and almost nothing about the other characters, but there IS a reason for that, I suppose.

The DVD comes with a number of special features including an hour-long making of documentary, a short Q&A with Shimizu which is very enlightening as he reveals his thoughts on the differences between J-Horror and American horror films. There are also some deleted scenes as well.

Subtle and atmospheric, Reincarnation definitely ranks as one of the best of the After Dark Horrorfest films.

REVIWED BY TIM JANSON

this is one of three films i enjoyed at horrorfest.

it has a good story, although it could be considered rehashed, it does it in a sorta original way. the ending did make the hairs on my arms stand and i was thankful for that. some parts are a bit disturbing, and it kept my interest the entire time.

Do yourself a favor and avoid Penny Dreadful from the horrorfest series, try the rest, especially Gravedancers and definitely watch the Abandoned in theaters. And if you do watch Penny Dreadful, write a review about it and warn other people like i tried to warn you.

The people who don't like this movie are expectinga tingly, shrill, "Grudge"-like movie. And they were dissapointed. This movie is, however, an excellent phycho-thriller, it has twists and turns, and is truly an accomplishment for Shimizu, and is probably his only movie where everything actually works together as oppossed to leaving unanswered questions.

Yes, if you are dim-witted, you won't like this movie because it's not a horror movie, and you actually have to pay attention to it.

But, those of you intelligent enough to understand a complicated movie such as this one will find it terribly enjoyable.

**Also, just a note for you that claim it to be "confusing" don't ever try to watch the movie "Primer" you'll never figure that one out.**

Well, I kept hearing all sorts of disappointing statements about Reincarnation. Needless to say, I was a bit reluctant to see it in my local theater. But then I remembered that I have never seen a Japanese film on the big screen, so I went mainly for the experience. Wasn't I surprised when I realized - after seeing the film - that it's pretty damn good.

I'll keep things vague, so as to not spoil anything for those who haven't seen it yet. I admire originality, and while Reincarnation is no Marebito or Tetsuo on the originality scale, it definitely scores high. Sure, there are a lot of horror elements used in this film that have been seen before, but they are not used in quite the same manner. Perhaps the most impressive thing is that the concept of reincarnation itself is used to bridge and interconnect all of these elements in a new and satisfying way. It's like a chef who takes a bunch of foods that you've eaten before, but uses a special ingredient to shake things up. In short, Takashi Shimizu works well as a movie chef here.

Some have complained that the ending is predictable, but this is a misleading assertion. There are essentially three twists that occur back to back to back. Surely, most viewers will probably be able to guess the first twist, but there is very little probability that they will be able to guess either of the other two.

Of course, you can be sure that incompetent, tasteless reviewers like LawrenceGriffin will criticize this film for lacking "integrity and weight" (as well as entertainment value), only to then recommend completely weightless trash like Friday the 13th in the same breath. For the rest of us who actually enjoy a quality horror film, we'll stick with our Japanese gems.

The pacing is very similar to Audition (although not nearly as violent in its culmination). The first 70 minutes is basically a slow paced set-up for the finale, with some dashes of formulaic scares. Fortunately, the final 25 minute finale is one of the most interesting, original, and compelling horror sequences in recent memory. So for those planning to see it, please be patient, and rest assured, the crap will hit the fan . . . hard. Quite frankly, the final series of events in Reincarnation had this viewer giggling with amazement. Just when I thought I had the next scene figured out, Takashi Shimizu would pull the rug from beneath my feet and turn the film in another direction.

I think that the reasoning behind some negative reactions to Reincarnation is the fact that it was marketed ineffectively. There is nothing extremely violent in this film, yet it was packaged within a Horrorfest of films that were allegedly very violent. I'm sure that the gorehounds entered the theater looking for lots of guts and blood, in which case they must have been greatly disappointed. In addition, no one knew the film was in subtitles. I watch East Asian films almost exclusively, so I prefer subtitles to dubbings any day of the week, but I must say that the audible groans and moans from the audience when the subtitles appeared was remarkably entertaining. Apparently, reading a few lines on a screen is too difficult for American audiences. :)

All in all, this was a classic horror film that scores relatively high in originality. I highly recommend it for those who can appreciate a slow-buring, plot-driven horror film with a fantastic finale.

some of these after dark filmfest things turn out pretty good, some not so much. it's still a craps-shoot. but this film is worth a look. i've been growing fond of japanese horror flicks. they definitely have a different perspective. and they still manage to deliver a few good scares. i was first drawn to this flick when i heard it was directed by the same guy who did 'the grudge', Takashi Shimizu. i liked the americanized version of that movie with sarah michelle gellar (whom i still have a bit of a crush on). my main problem with reincarnation is that there was no english voice-over. you had to watch it in japanese with english subtitles, which can be a bit distracting. i had to watch it at least 3 times before i could piece it all together. (given the director, i expected it to be originally shot in japanese, but i was expecting a voice-over in english). once you figure it out, it's a pretty decent 4-star horror flick. the premise of a film director taking a fresh approach to reenacting a true mass-murder event and being interrupted by ghosts of the victims (that's not entirely how it works in the film, but you have to watch it to get it) was a respectable 4-star premise that was delivered in a fascinating series of events as the story unfolds. of course it's hard to rate the acting ability of actors who are speaking in a foreign language, but they seemed to be presenting themselves in reasonably believable form.....so the acting seemed fine, especially in the screaming-scary parts. Decent special effects....the japanese tend to be a bit behind us in this field, but they did a good, reasonable job of making things look real. there were a few good surprises and chilling moments and things to make you jump or give you the creeps.....like when the kid's doll comes to life. and that little 6-year-old girl was very good at being creepy......kudos to her on a supurb acting job. the general mood throughout this film was almost as eerie as the grudge...not quite, but almost. overall, this was an enjoyable 4-star horror movie. now that i gave it a chance, i understand it......it gives me a good scare with a japanese twist for flavor. it leaves me wanting to see more work from this director....and it feeds my growing interest in japanese horror films.

Only in Asia does the practice of horror as a cinematic art form remain alive and well. Reincarnation, as far as I'm concerned, is a simply masterful horror film that succeeds on levels Hollywood forgot many years ago. Pulling double duty as the third (and apparently last) entry in Taka Ichise's J-Horror Theater series and one of the 8 Films to Die For from HorrorFest 2006, Reincarnation is in something of a unique position to offer American and other western audiences a gloriously juicy taste of what they're missing if they have yet to make the jump to Asian horror. Of course, not everyone will agree with my five-star assessment of the film, but I am a little surprised by the range of responses to Reincarnation. Those raised on a steady diet of Hollywood slashers may have trouble adjusting to the slower pace of this film's horror, while some may not like the fact that they have to think a little bit as the film goes along; some will balk at the necessity of reading subtitles; and I concede the fact that the ending of the film can be somewhat confusing - but how can you not be impressed at the atmosphere and nuance intricately woven into this production? During the buildup to the conclusion, you actually have three aspects of the story running in perfect parallel to one another for at least ten minutes before being melded together brilliantly by director Takashi Shimizu. On a more visceral level, the film generates some wonderfully creepy moments - I'll even admit that this film even got one little jump out of me, and that almost never happens to this experienced horror veteran. As far as I'm concerned, Reincarnation is the type of film that can restore your faith in horror films.

Say whatever you'd like about the film, but I don't see how any can disagree that the lovely young actress Yűka delivers a mesmerizing performance in the starring role of Nagisa Sugiura, a budding young actress chosen to play the pivotal role in horror movie director Matsumura's new film, which is based on a hotel massacre that took place in 1970. A professor killed eleven people in the hotel, including his two young children. After the audition - even before she's offered the role - Nagisa begins having unexplained sightings, mostly of a creepy little girl with an even creepier-looking doll, and nightly nightmares. Oddly enough, a young psychology student also begins having disturbing visions involving the hotel. It's initially unclear what this student has to do with Nagisa and Matsumura's movie, but rest assured that everything will be brought together beautifully in the end. One of the film's great strengths is the fact that it has you asking questions and surmising things all the way through it. This ability to keep the viewer engaged for so long is what makes Reincarnation so special. When, I ask you, is the last time you had an OMG moment in the final 10-15 minutes of a horror film? The masterful ending of Reincarnation is quite full of surprises you may not have seen coming.

Reincarnation is completely unrelated to the two earlier entries in the J-Horror Theater series, Infection and Premonition, so don't think you need to see those before watching this one (although they are both great movies in their own right). It's highly unfortunate that the remaining three films in this project are apparently not going to see the light of day. If you only watch one of these three impressive films, though, Reincarnation is the one to see. It doesn't deliver quite the punch of, for example, A Tale of Two Sisters (Two-Discs), but it does operate on a similarly high plane of cinematic horror artistry.

Very good movie...out of all the J-Horror I've seen this is one of the easiest to follow...I hear people tell me all the time that they get confused watching J-Horror...this ones not going to confuse you. It was creepy too...and well done. There was a creepy atmosphere through the whole movie and the end was really good even though I had it figured out before it was over. Probably the best out of all the horrorfest movies...of course that wouldn't be to hard considering most of the other ones sucked. It is subtitled so make sure you're willing to read before you buy it...but it will give you a scare. I actually would give it 4 1/2 stars because there were parts of the movie that were a little boring and some of it does move a little slow....but its really worth a watch, especially if you're into J-Horror.